Otero J.C. softball wins regional championship

The Otero Junior College women's softball team defeated Western Nebraska Community College 2-1 Monday at Volunteer Field to win the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX championship.

Western Nebraska scored its only run in the third, but the Lady Rattlers tied the score with a run in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

After three scoreless innings, the Lady Rattlers scored the game-winning run in the top of the 11th.

Individual statistics for OJC were unavailable.

The regional championship was a best-of-three series. WNCC won the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday 4-3 and the Lady Rattlers won the second game 4-3

Otero (53-9) will host the NJCAA District E Tournament this coming week. The Lady Rattlers will host top-ranked Butler (Kan.) Community College. There will be two games on Thursday and if necessary a game will be played on Friday. Game times have not been determined.